Well you could use multiple ethernet interfaces for LAN gaming, but that's not all you can do. You can use your computer as a gateway to other computers and other stuff. You probably won't ever need more than one port.
LAN gaming typically involves having many computers with one ethernet port connected to a hub/switch.
The gigabit ethernet card simply allows you to connect an ethernet cable from your DSL/cable modem to your Mac for your internet connection.
Sooooooo.... an ethernet card utilizing a PCI-X slot rather than a PCI slot will, theoretically, allow you more throughput, more efficient operation.
Both of these points are theoretically correct, but presented together they are highly misleading.
It doesn't matter what kind of network adapter you plug into your cable modem. The cable modem is going to be slower, and you get zero benefit from having a speedier ethernet card. I have a 100Mb Internet connection, and I would likewise get no benefit from a 1Gb card, since my network card isn't the bottleneck.
You can, theoretically, get a benefit from using the 1Gb ethernet interface if your traffic is over a 1Gb LAN to another computer that also has 1Gb Ethernet, or you have a lot of traffic with several computers simultaneously. Translation: if you don't *know* you need 1Gb ethernet, you don't.
So do the new PMs still have the same ethernet capability as the current ones - as standard?
Well the new powermacs (upto 2.5ghz) are now the current machines. Either way the PMs have had gigabit eithernet standard for some time now. You only need an extra card to add a 2nd (or 3rd, 4th, etc) eithernet port to your machine.
Comments
The gigabit ethernet card simply allows you to connect an ethernet cable from your DSL/cable modem to your Mac for your internet connection.
Sooooooo.... an ethernet card utilizing a PCI-X slot rather than a PCI slot will, theoretically, allow you more throughput, more efficient operation.
So why would i need two ethernet ports. confused here. so is it for like LAN gaming>?????
LAN gaming typically involves having many computers with one ethernet port connected to a hub/switch.
Originally posted by Cake
The gigabit ethernet card simply allows you to connect an ethernet cable from your DSL/cable modem to your Mac for your internet connection.
Sooooooo.... an ethernet card utilizing a PCI-X slot rather than a PCI slot will, theoretically, allow you more throughput, more efficient operation.
Both of these points are theoretically correct, but presented together they are highly misleading.
It doesn't matter what kind of network adapter you plug into your cable modem. The cable modem is going to be slower, and you get zero benefit from having a speedier ethernet card. I have a 100Mb Internet connection, and I would likewise get no benefit from a 1Gb card, since my network card isn't the bottleneck.
You can, theoretically, get a benefit from using the 1Gb ethernet interface if your traffic is over a 1Gb LAN to another computer that also has 1Gb Ethernet, or you have a lot of traffic with several computers simultaneously. Translation: if you don't *know* you need 1Gb ethernet, you don't.
Originally posted by Zarathustra
So do the new PMs still have the same ethernet capability as the current ones - as standard?
Well the new powermacs (upto 2.5ghz) are now the current machines. Either way the PMs have had gigabit eithernet standard for some time now. You only need an extra card to add a 2nd (or 3rd, 4th, etc) eithernet port to your machine.
stats:
2.5GHz PowerPC G5
512 MB DDR400 (PC3200)-2X256
250GB Serial ATA-7200rpm
8x Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
ATI Rad9800 XT w/256MB DDR
56k V.92 Modem
Airport Extreme Card
Apple Keyboard & Mouse
Mac OS X
Originally posted by SwitchingSoon
no doubt. thats why i go 3rd party RAM :-D
of course. anyone who buys ram from the Apple store has too much $$$.